Chapter 235: Strategy Guide Storm

Chapter 235: The Strategy Controversy

At 2 PM, Zhang Yuanqing was roused from sleep by a piercing ringtone.

I should have turned it off... Disturbed in his slumber, he snatched up his phone with a flicker of irritation, thumb poised to reject the call—then froze at the caller ID: Fu Qingyang!

"Centurion, what are your orders?"

Zhang Yuanqing's attitude flipped instantly, his tone sincere, brimming with patience.

"Haven't written the instance strategy yet?" Fu Qingyang's voice was rich and cool.

The higher-ups value the Aphasia Village strategy that much, huh? Probably curious too—after all, this is an instance that made the Demon Lord, even at the Saint stage, sigh that "survival was pure luck"... Zhang Yuanqing countered:

"What about it?"

Had anyone else spoken to him this way, Fu Qingyang would have coldly informed him that this was not how one addressed a superior.

But the Primordial Heavenly Venerate was different, through and through.

Fu Qingyang explained succinctly:

"The Taichi Gate people are asking Elder Dog for the strategy."

So Elder Dog went to you to contact me? Zhang Yuanqing mused a moment, then said:

"Centurion, regarding the Aphasia Village strategy, I don't know whether to submit it to the archives. Personally, I lean toward keeping it hidden, not selling it to the Taichi Gate."

Fu Qingyang's tone turned grave:

"How so?

"You should know, the Five Elements Alliance and the Taichi Gate are both official organizations. Competition and friction exist, true, but in stance, we rise and fall together. A single strategy, no matter how precious, cannot shake the covenant.

"Besides, I don't believe a Transcendent-grade instance strategy could sway organizational policy."

"I know!" Zhang Yuanqing said.

Hearing this, Fu Qingyang understood he had his reasons, and immediately replied:

"Then come over. We'll speak face to face!"

Hanging up, Zhang Yuanqing yawned, filled his stomach, scrolled the forum until drowsiness crashed over him, and fell asleep.

Daytime sleep aided the Night Wanderer's recovery; coupled with the stamina and energy boost from his experience gains, a mere two hours washed away every trace of fatigue from the instance.

Zhang Yuanqing laced up his running shoes and walked into the living room.

In the living room, his maternal grandfather sat by the computer wearing reading glasses, leisurely playing solitaire.

Seeing Zhang Yuanqing emerge, the old man picked up the thermos at his elbow—steeped with goji berries—unscrewed the lid, took a slow sip, and fixed his grandson with a gaze that "smiled without speaking."

Grandmother sat beside him, watching the game. At the sound of footsteps, she turned, her voice gentle:

"Awake? Hungry? I saved you a meal."

With that, she rose for the kitchen and returned bearing the kept-warm dishes.

Zhang Yuanqing wasn't truly hungry, but his grandmother rarely saved him food; a warmth stirred in his chest as he said:

"Just hungry, thanks Grandma..."

The words barely left his mouth before he saw Grandma set a lidded bowl before him, its broth dark-hued yet crystalline, cradling a squab, a handful of goji berries, a few slices of ginseng...

Zhang Yuanqing lifted his head, expression wooden as he stared at Grandma, shooting her three mental question marks.

Grandma spoke with satisfaction:

"Young as you are, you must mind your health. Oh, and remember to bring that young lady home for dinner. Yesterday I heard from the neighbors she came looking for you again? Drove a different car this time, truly rich..."

Finished, Grandma patted her grandson's shoulder and returned contentedly to Grandpa's side to watch the mahjong game.

Gone all night, home only to sleep—she thinks I labored till dawn? So she stewed me soup?

No, not like that, Grandma listen to me, you have to listen... Zhang Yuanqing's gaze was heavy with grief, his heart forming a gesture of reaching out to stop her.

...

"Feels like a lifetime's reputation ruined in a day, so embarrassing, all Jiang Yuer's fault—what lie couldn't she tell, had to lie about a girlfriend."

"Bring Guan Ya home, or invite Auntie Xiao Yuan? Hmm, Auntie Xiao Yuan may not show her age, but her bearing is mature, her presence no weaker than my mother's, hardly suitable to bring home, or Grandma'll think I'm kept by a sugar mommy, growing ever more disillusioned with society..."

Zhang Yuanqing's thoughts scattered wildly as the taxi sped him to Fujiawan.

Two different keycards granted access through security, into the grand villa, led by a bunny girl to the study.

At the far end of the long crimson carpet, Fu Qingyang stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, red wine glass in hand, admiring the garden's verdure.

On the reception sofas beside him, Guan Ya, Ling Jun, and Li Dongze each occupied a seat, sipping fine wine, indulging in extravagant desserts and delicacies.

These three came for the spectacle, like friends shouting: Tonight let's find a spot and have fun!

Then drove in a convoy straight to Fujiawan.

Naturally, Guan Ya and Li Dongze also worried for Yuanshi's mental state—the instance too perilous, too terrifying, and Night Walkers with twisted mindsets emerged every year.

You people, wallowing in debauchery and luxury day in, day out... Zhang Yuanqing trod the plush red carpet toward the gathering.

He settled naturally beside Guan Ya, catching the expensive perfume wafting from the mixed-race beauty.

Fu Qingyang turned, wine glass in hand, and asked:

"What's special about the Mute Village instance?"

Instantly, Guan Ya, Ling Jun, and Li Dongze fixed him with curious gazes.

They wondered what made Mute Village special, nearly toppling the Demon Lord, and more what reason led Yuanshi to deem Mute Village's guide unfit for the Taiyi Sect.

Zhang Yuanqing pondered a moment, then said:

"I encountered the same problem as the Demon Lord inside, nearly died there. I'd say Mute Village's difficulty has surpassed S-rank, on par with the Sheling Tunnel."

On par with Sheling Tunnel?

Sheling Tunnel was a bug-tier Spirit Realm, an instance that couldn't be cleared normally.

In thirty-odd years, only Yuanshi Tianzun had claimed its first clear.

Li Dongze shook his head:

"That's not right. Although we don't know if anyone besides the Demon Lord has cleared Aphasia Village, the fact that the Demon Lord *could* clear it means it cannot be like the She Ling Tunnel."

Zhang Yuanqing nodded. "So the Demon Lord and I both nearly died inside."

Guan Ya cut a slice of cake, placed it before Zhang Yuanqing, and said:

"The difficulty of an A-rank instance shouldn't be like this. Don't keep us in suspense—tell us what happened."

Zhang Yuanqing met the gazes of the crowd and spoke:

"Without a walkthrough, following the instance's guidance leads to a Bug-rank Secret Realm. I can state unequivocally: no Transcendent Walker can clear Aphasia Village. Because the instance's final boss should be a High-Rank Saint."

A High-Rank Saint meant at least Rank 5, possibly even Rank 6.

"High-Rank Saint..." Ling Jun shed his languid posture.

A flicker of astonishment flashed through Fu Qingyang's eyes.

This was already a difficulty calibrated for their tier; it was simply unbelievable that such a boss would appear in a solo Secret Realm for the Transcendent stage.

Zhang Yuanqing shifted gears: "But *with* a walkthrough, the Aphasia Village instance is very easy. It shouldn't be much harder than B-rank, though I've never entered a B-rank myself."

At this, they understood.

Li Dongze and Guan Ya hesitated, while Ling Jun's expression turned grave:

"So, anyone entering the instance is doomed, unless they are figures like you and the Demon Lord who stand a chance of clearing it. That makes the walkthrough critically important.

"You're saying a walkthrough this vital cannot be sold to the Taiyi Sect, is that it?"

Ling Jun's demeanor was serious and stern. One could tell he was angry.

When all was said and done, Ling Jun was the Taiyi Sect's Crown Prince, the Sect Master's own son—though this Sect Master had quite a few sons.

If Yuan Shi was trying to gouge them, seizing the chance to fleece the Taiyi Sect, Ling Jun wouldn't be angry; he'd be laughing as he helped fleece them. The Taiyi Sect had deep pockets—if not the big fat sheep, then who? A walkthrough for a certain-death Secret Realm was indeed worth a fortune.

But for Yuan Shi, a Night Wanderer, to refuse to sell the walkthrough for a Secret Realm that meant certain death... the intent behind that refusal was something Ling Jun could not accept, and it infuriated him.

Fu Qingyang glanced at him, then turned to Zhang Yuanqing:

"I understand.

"But if that's all it is, selling the walkthrough to the Taiyi Sect is fine. As for the price, we won't shortchange you."

Unexpectedly, Zhang Yuanqing still shook his head:

"Centurion, look at these three items first, then decide if you want to take those words back."

Under four furrowed brows, he withdrew from his inventory, in succession, an obsidian, translucent female doll; a dull, gray Luan-Phoenix bronze mirror; a box of silver rouge.

Zhang Yuanqing said: "As long as you clear the instance following the walkthrough, you are guaranteed to obtain these three artifacts."

Fu Qingyang, curiosity piqued, walked to the tea table, set down his wine cup, and took hold of the Yin Jade Doll.

Seconds later, the item information surfaced. Fu Qingyang's expression froze. He looked up at Zhang Yuanqing in shock, but said nothing. He set down the doll and picked up the Luan-Phoenix Bronze Mirror.

This time, Fu Qingyang's face turned abruptly solemn. He hastily set down the mirror and reached for the rouge box, seeming almost impatient.

Seconds later, having read the rouge box's information, Fu Qingyang fell into a long silence.

In this process, Guan Yaling, Ling Jun, and Li Dongze bore witness, from start to finish, to the "rich and varied" kaleidoscope of expressions flitting across the face of the cold, aristocratic young master.

They stared at the three props on the tea table, curiosity gnawing at them like a hundred claws scratching at their hearts and livers.

A long while later, Fu Qingyang pinched the bridge of his nose and said:

"This matter is beyond my authority to decide. I must inform the Elder... even the Songhai Branch may not have the say; we have to notify Headquarters."

Ling Jun ventured tentatively:

"Um, I... can I take a look?"

Fu Qingyang nodded: "Go ahead."

The three of them reached out in unison, each seizing a prop, reading the item information.

Then, their eyes widened in near-perfect synchronization.

They exchanged the props with bizarre expressions, rapidly finishing the read on all three. Ling Jun was left dumbfounded, stammering:

"This, this, this... it seems... it really can't be sold to the Taiyi Sect..."

He spoke from the standpoint of the Five Elements Alliance.

According to Yuanshi, as long as they followed the guide, they could clear the Mute Village instance without loss, and clearing it guaranteed replicas of the three props as rewards.

Low risk, high reward!

A Night Tour God exclusive Secret Realm—Walkers of the Five Elements Alliance couldn't enter. From now on, only the Taiyi Sect could obtain these things.

What did this imply? In a few years, the Taiyi Sect's warehouses might be flooded with replicas.

In ten years, every Night Tour God in the Taiyi Sect might possess a replica.

And these three props were extraordinary; those who wielded them could even wrestle with a Level 4 Saint.

What did *that* mean?

For the Five Elements Alliance, it was handing a nuclear warhead to an ally while keeping none for themselves.

The low-to-mid-tier forces of the Taiyi Sect would swell at a terrifying rate.

In the future, which of the Five Elements Alliance's extraordinary Walkers would be able to hold their heads high before a Taiyi Sect Night Tour God?

This guide was too special—more special than an S-rank instance guide. No, it had long ceased to be a mere guide; it involved a game of chess between two official organizations.

Ling Jun now understood why Yuanshi refused to sell to the Taiyi Sect.

Fu Qingyang said nothing. He strode to the desk at the end of the red carpet, snatched up the landline, and dialed the Dog Elder's number.

Soon, the call connected. The Dog Elder's voice was calm and gentle:

"Has Yuanshi submitted the instance guide?"

Fu Qingyang spoke in a low, heavy voice:

"Elder, regarding the guide, you must come to Fu Family Bay personally. I cannot make this call."